Qantas is set to introduce non-stop flights between Sydney and Cape Town in October 2027, adding a second South African destination to its network and establishing a direct air link between Australia and the Western Cape.
The airline took to social media to announce the route, sharing images featuring flight attendants posing at several landmarks across the Mother City.
The seasonal service, announced on 6 November, will operate three times weekly using the airline’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Flights are scheduled to begin on 19 October 2027 and continue until 24 March 2028.Operating as QF89, the Sydney-Cape Town service will depart at 09:15, arriving at Cape Town International Airport at 14:40. The flight is approximately 14 hours and 25 minutes.
The route will give passengers a direct option between the two cities, removing the need to connect through Johannesburg or another international hub.
Sydney-Cape Town to Operate Seasonally
Cape Town will become Qantas’ second destination in South Africa, joining Johannesburg, which is served from both Sydney and Perth.
Until now, passengers travelling with Qantas from Australia to Cape Town have generally had to connect through Johannesburg, including on onward flights operated by its partner airline, Airlink. Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said tens of thousands of customers make the onward journey each year.
“Each year, tens of thousands of customers use our existing Johannesburg services to connect to Cape Town through our partner airlines Airlink, so we know there’s strong demand for a non-stop service“ Wallace said.
Flights will operate on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, adding almost 30,000 seats between Australia and South Africa during the inaugural season.
Return Economy fares start at A$2,470, with bookings opening on 6 November.
Additional Boeing 787-9s to Support Expansion
The introduction of the route coincides with the arrival of additional Boeing 787-9s into Qantas’ fleet, expected from late 2027.
The aircraft will provide additional capacity for the airline’s international operations, with the Cape Town service among the routes planned around its fleet expansion. Qantas has also placed orders for larger Boeing 787-10s and Airbus A350-1000s as it continues to renew and expand its long-haul fleet.
Growing Traffic Between Australia and South Africa
More than 120,000 Australians visited South Africa during 2025, according to figures cited by Qantas. Arrivals from Australia also increased by 19% year-on-year in June 2026.
There are established travel links between the two countries beyond tourism. Almost 225,000 South African-born citizens reside in Australia, with approximately a quarter residing in New South Wales. Wrenelle Stander, CEO of Wesgro, said the direct connection would create opportunities for tourism, trade, investment and business exchange between the two markets.
Qantas’ South African Connection Dates Back to 1952
Qantas’ relationship with South Africa stretches back 75 years. In 1952, the airline introduced scheduled passenger services to Johannesburg through its Wallaby Route, which connected Australia with South Africa via Perth, the Cocos Islands and Mauritius.
The journey took approximately 66 hours, a far cry from the 14-hour non-stop service planned between Sydney and Cape Town.
The new route will give Qantas a second destination in South Africa and provide a second direct connection between South Africa and Oceania.
With the addition of flights to Oceania, Cape Town International Airport will become the first airport in Africa to have operated flights to all seven continents.
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